Oct 23 to 29

One Foot In Front Of The Other Santa GIFfrom One Foot In Front Of The Other GIFs

 

I'm running a little slow today - I was up early to drop my eldest off at the train station downtown at 6 a.m. I finished almost all the rings this week - missed Tuesday for some reason. 

Shrug. Feeling good otherwise. I have some tender spots, but when do people not have things that ache or are stiff?

Started to include kettlebell swings in the morning routine. I mean I'm using a dumbbell for the moment, but I like how the heart rate rises when I'm using them. It's been an odd week at work but at least I got my rings closed. 

ASL continues as well. Nice and boring progress is being made. 

Oct 16 to 22

 

It is just good advice ... and something of a mantra these days. That one and "If the octopus can recover after a tragedy, so can you".

Yeah, that second one might be why I'm still using a late-night swim most days to complete my rings.  Morning sessions continue much the same. I did pick up a thicker band this week for the rows. I will pick up another one for the curls and overhead presses. Need to continue my progress.

I keep thinking about a return to contact sports. I do like them, but am enjoying the solitude of the pool at the moment. Usually, I show up at the pool and it is just me. 

I love the idea of solitude. Just myself and my thoughts - some are the intrusive kind that are drawn out and are confronted. My thoughts and ideas about what I could be doing with my life and how much further along I will be if I just keep showing up. 

So I just keep showing up. By myself. With my family. For my family. I just keep showing up. 

And so the idea of my family - my wife and my children keeps me from feeling lonely. I'm by myself. I'm enjoying the solitude, but I'm not lonely. 

What's that line from ee cummings? Oh yeah ... "i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)"

But the morning sessions and the swimming continue. The learning ASL continues as well. I keep making progress. All is good. 

Oct 10. to 15

 

"Walk the rice paper soft as you can. Try not to tear it."

Getting back on my habits and getting this post done on Sunday. Yesterday was a full day, despite it being a Saturday. A full day of learning and tutoring would lead you to think that I wouldn't get my rings closed, but I got them done. 

The right number of people here

In fact, all of the rings were completed all of the days, thank you. 

I'm trying to make each of the Swimming sessions be at least 30 minutes - which is more of a mental game than anything else.

150 m Brest 

200 m arms only Freestyle. - which I sometimes do with my legs as I get bored

150 m breast

100 m legs only

200 m freestyle - with flippers and paddles, just to keep it interesting

150 m arms only freestyle

Then, if I need to get to 30 minutes of some breaststroke and or some walking. Something kinda cool, just working on getting my heart rate back down and stretching out. Again the focus is on doing some training and not risking any injury. 

Yes, I need to work on my butterfly and the backstroke. Duly noted and I will get them into the mix here. I have done some work on the dolphin kick for the butterfly, but felt something go "twang" in my knee and thought better of that. Backstroke is just boring. Shrug, ok fine I'll do some backstroke for you next time.

Morning sessions are the same - although I am adding and subtracting day to day. Lately, I've been adding pushups - have been thinking of making a shena board for some work on that. They look cool, man. Anyway, still showing up and still getting the work done. 

As has been said, "The work is the gift."

October 1 to 10

 

Was awesome and cool. 

Had a little brain flatulence over the weekend - I was away in the RV. It was chilly and the drive was a bit windy for me. I did close the rings on most of the days - Wednesday and Sunday were write-offs. I wasn't in the right frame of mind and I was also on vacation, respectively. 

My cardio outfit for this winter

Saturday the 7th was hilarious - we were in the RV but the sunset was incredible. I had three or four walks around the park to make sure I got some pretty cool shots of the sunset over the lake. It was nice to be able to get the walking in, it was nice to be able to stretch out after and finish my rings, too.

When we got back, the first thing I did was go for a record-setting swim to finish off the rings and get myself set up for the week at work. All was awesome. 

Sleep has been pretty good, and eating has been flexible - got right back on the focus on the proper diet after I got back from the trip. It's not a bad routine for diet either. I'm happy and my butt is getting smaller and smaller as we go through the days.

Still, I need to add some walking running or hiking to the mix; need to get my cardio and VO2 max up. They will be the deciding factor for a return to sports in the spring. 

Sept 25 to Sept 30

 

The right number of swimmers in the pool. Always

This was a good week - a little increase in the side hustle, I paid for the ASL 102 that will start in a few days and mostly finished the rings. 

Rather boringly, my morning routine is moving me forward. A nice start to all my days with a 30-35 minute session that I haven't really changed. I know I'll need to work on my whole body, so I am starting to get to a yoga class once a week. Except this week, I just couldn't get that done. 

The evening swims are usually done in solitude. I must say that is awesome. Not sure how this business is staying in business with just me coming in that late, but I appreciate that I don't really share the pool with anyone. Very Zen. I'm grateful for the silence. 

I also know I need to get a bit of running in if only to toughen up the legs and lungs for any sort of return to combat / outdoor sports next summer. I'm not sure I will want to change anything in the next eight weeks, as I've now got a full plate of everything I can handle. 

I'll check in/reflect back on this at Christmas time to see what I was thinking.